Public Safety

Safeguards against sexual assault

Although adhering to the previously mentioned general crime
prevention tips will be your best
safeguard against rape by a stranger; most rapes are committed by someone
who you know. You might want to
consider some of the following “tips”. This is particularly true when you are considering going out with someone you have just met.

On the first date, choose cozy but
public places as opposed to dark parking lots, “country drives” or his
apartment to share intimate moments.

When you blind date, try to double
with a friend.

Do not be compromised into submission
by engaging in illegal acts or the use of narcotics; this may discourage you
from later reporting an assault.

Do not judge anyone by the clothes
they wear or their occupation.
Designer clothes and an illustrious career will not guarantee your
safety on a first (or even later) date.

Realize your body is yours and no one
has the right to touch you unless you give permission for him / her to do so.

Public Safety
works with the Health Services Center to provide informational materials and/or
speakers to improve awareness of date / acquaintance rape, and other
non-forcible and forcible sex offenses.

Help After An Assault

Agnes Scott has professionally trained counselors on staff. Counselors
can be reached by calling ext. 6117. Also, the Agnes Scott Wellness Center
staff is available to provide medical services and or appropriate referrals
at ext. 6346. Victims of
Rape or Assault are encouraged to report the crime to Agnes Scott Department of
Public Safety on the emergency line at
(404) 471-6400.

Counselors available 24 hours a day through the DeKalb Rape Crisis
Center and the Rape Crisis Center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Both provide a variety of medical
and counseling services for rape victims. However, if a student requests the
assistance of a particular facility other than what is listed or if the student
needs assistance reporting a sexual assault that may have occurred off campus
to the police department with jurisdiction, the College will provide the
student assistance with help notifying these authorities.

DeKalb Rape
Crisis Center(404) 377-1428

Grady Rape Crisis
Center(404) 616-4861

Persons who commit these crimes are known to repeat the acts and
cannot be caught or stopped without the victim’s assistance. The welfare of the victim is the Public
Safety Department’s primary concern.
Crimes of such a sensitive nature are handled with the utmost
discretion. Please remember that
the victim of sexual assault is a primary component of the evidence in a crime
scene. Therefore, we caution the
victim to avoid douching, showering, changing clothes, brushing teeth, drinking
or disturbing the crime scene in any way to preserve critical evidence used in
the prosecution.

In the event a student becomes a victim of rape or sexual assault,
Agnes Scott College will change the student’ living and / or academic situation
if changes are requested and are reasonably available. Please see the Student Handbook for information of the College’s sexual harassment
policy and guidelines on adjudication of these incidents through on-campus
procedures. These procedures
include: “ . . . neither the college nor the participants will have attorneys
or legal representation during the complaint process. . . . . recommendations
for resolution “must be presented to both parties within ten (10) working days
of the complaint”. . . . Informal complaint recommendations “are negotiated
recommendations that both parties must agree to and do not include any
suspension or dismissal”, however, formal complaint recommendations may affirm
the recommendations of the informal complaint or make further recommendations,
to include suspension and dismissal from the College (pp. 204-2